A high-quality wash is imperative in distilling a superior spirit. Of course, there are many things that can make or break a wash, so its worth understanding a bit more about the magic little organism that is yeast.
Yeasts are a single-celled microorganism that are a member of the fungi kingdom. Yeast multiplies vigorously in the presence of oxygen and “eats” the sugars present in your wash or mash (with some help from enzymes), converting it into ethanol, carbon dioxide and flavour aroma compounds during the fermentation process.
Through this process, yeast influences and creates flavour (key when distilling using a pot still) and alcohol content.
Choosing the right yeast for your wash may seem like a difficult task, or perhaps it seems unnecessary, but not all yeasts are made equal. Although the yeast used for different types of fermentation mostly belong to the same species (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) there are thousands of different strains, each designed to produce different results.
So, how do you decide which one to use? Check out our blog which goes into detail about different yeasts and which one to use for your needs.